Temperature-regulating device



Marci; 17. 1925.

Filed Dec. so, 1918 Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

NETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. MICCOY, OF SPOKANE, VJASI-IINGTUN, ASSIGNOR TO REFRIGERATOR CAR EQUIPMENT 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

TEMPERATURE-REGULATING DEVICE.

Application filed December 30, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. MCCOY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State or lVashington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Temperaturefiegulating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to temperature regulating devices and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description particularly adapted to be used in connection with temperature varying devices for moving compartments such as cars or other vehicles including boats, or upon any moving device. The invention has among other objects to utilize the motion of the vehicle to assist in producing a circulation of air in the compartment the tem perature of which is to be regulated. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of a vehicle with one form of temperature regulating device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the device shown in Figure l with the top of the vehicle removed and with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing one of the air moving devices in the vehicle;

Figure is an enlarged view showing the driving device for the air moving device.

like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring now to the drawings I have shown a vehicle 1- provided with a suitable temperature varying device adaptedto act upon the air in the interior of the car so as to vary its temperature to make it different from the temperature of the exterior atmosphere. This temperature varying device may be either a cooling or heating device depending upon the season or" the year in which it is used. For purposes of illustration I have shown a particular construction of temperature varying device, but it is of course evident that various other constructions may be used.

In the construction shown there are a plurality of receptacles l, 2, 3 and 4, the receptacles l and 2 being located near one end of the vehicle and the receptacles 3 and 4 near the other end thereof.

Between the receptacles 1 and 2 I pro- Serial No. 268,829.

vide a series of valves 5 which open when pressure is applied to them on one side and which close when pressure is applied to them on the other side. Between the receptacles 3 and 4 I provide similar valves 6. The valves 5 and 6 open in opposite directions. A pipe 7 connects receptacles 2 and 3, and a pipe 8 connects receptacles l and 4:- When the receptacles ancl pipes contain liquid, the circulation of this liquid is produced by the movement of the vehicle. If, for example, the vehicle moves from side to side liquid will pass from tank 1 to tank 2, but cannot pass back because the valves 5 would close. This liquid will them pass through pipe 7 and liquid will pass from receptacle 3 to receptacle 4 butv cannot return because of valve 6. Liquid will then pass through pipe 8 back to receptacle 1 and thus a circulation will be secured. If it is desired to cool the receptacle a cooling liquid will be circulated, such for example, as salted water. This liquid may be cooled before being inserted inthe receptacles or may be cooled by ice or by melting ice in the receptacles. If it is desired to heat the compartment a warm. or heated liquid is used. In attempting to regulate the temperature of a compartment it is necessary to provide a proper circulation of the air. This circulation of air is secured in part by variations in temperature but for many purposes the maintaining and securing f a circulation of air by this means is defective and unsatisfactory because the circulation is only produced when there is a variation in temperature between the different parts of the vehicle, and one of the objects which it is necessary and desirable to secure in many instances is a uniform temperature. It will thus be seen that under such conditions if the air circulation is dependent upon varia tions in temperature, there vmust be pro duced a condition which is objectionable. In the present case this objectionable condition is obviated as I have provided means for producing a circulation of air independent of the variations in temperature.

In this construction I provide in the vehicle one or more air moving devices 10 located in the car at a suitable point or points so as to cause a movement of air independent of variations in temperatu'rei F or purposes of illustration I have shown four of these air moving devices, one near each corner of the vehicle. Any suitable form of air moving device may be use and as herein shown the air moving device consists of a series of vanes 11 formed into a wheel and mounted in a suitable casing. When these vanes are rotated the air is drawn in through the central opening 12 and is discharged through the opening 13. means is provided for actuating the air'inoving devices and I have illustrated a driving device therefor which utilizes the motion of the vehicle. This drivingdevice consists of a wheel 1% having a series of blades 15 (see Fig. i) and is located at some suitable point where the ir currents produced bv the moving of the vehicle can act upon it. In the construction shown each wheel 1- is mounted in a casing 16 which is open at the ends 17 and 18 so that the air passes therethrough. The casings are preferably provided with the inclined shields 19 which prevent the air from striking the blades when in one position, but guide the air to the blades when in another position. as clearly illustrated in Figure i. It will thus be seen that as the vehicle moves the current of air strikes the paddles 15, rotates the wheel, and this wheel rotates the air moving devices 11. Even when the vehicle is standing still it there is a current of air the wheels 14% will be rotated and the air moving devices 11 actuated. i

I have described in detail a particular construction, embodying my invention, but

it is ot -course evident that the parts may be varied in many particulars withoutde' parting from the spirit of my invention as embodied intlie claims, hereto attached, and I therefore do not limit myself to the par-v ticular construction shown.

'The use and operation of are as followsz When the device is in use and the tempera ture varying device is in operation, whether it be for cooling or warming, the pipes 7 and 8 will be either heated or cooled. It:

my invention now the car is in motion the \VllGGlS 14 will be rotated so as todrive the air moving dev ces 11. The air moving devices then move the air in the car, thereby producing a circulation ndependent of the variations in temperature and hence a substantially uniform temperature throughout the car is maintained. The air moving devices are notr equired to do very much work as they need simply start the air by producing a comparatively small var ation in pressure,

whereupon the air is moved in its effort to equalize the pressure. It Will thus be seen that only a small amount of force is required Some suitable to operate the wheels 14: and hence a proper circulation and a substantially uniform temperature is secured and maintained, practically without cost, by utilizing the-'movement of the vehicle. I air moving devices near the top of the vehicle and in proximity to the pipes 7 and 8, that is, to the portions of the temperature varying devices by means of which the air in the compartment is heated or cooled relatively to the outside air. The air moving device or devices, however, may be located wherever desired. Y

I claim:

1. A temperature regulating device for moving compartments comprising an air moving device mounted on the side wall of the compartment and communicating with said con'ipartment but shut oii from the outside air, a wheel outside of said compartment and provided with a series of blades, said, wheel and said air-moving device mounted on the same shaft, a casing at tached to the side of the compartment, a shield, said shield and easing associated with the wheel, said shield'having an inclined portion forming with said casing a converging passage and adapted to prevent the current of air from striking theblades when in one position but to direct the air against the blades when in another position, the passage through the casing having a straight bottom portion located below the bottom of the wheel.

2. A temperature regulating device for moving compartments comprising a temperature'varying apparatus, a series of sepaprefer to locate the rated wheels supported on the sides of the wheels being connected with the associated wheels on the ins de of the compartment so as to rotate the same when the coinpai'tn'ient is moving and produce a circulation of the air about sa d temperature varying device.

In testimony whereof, I atti'v my signa-,-,

ture in tliepresence of two witnesses this 16th day of December, 1918.

.CHARLESWV. MCCOY. l Vitnes's'esi EDNA B. .PETERSON,

MARION L'. INGRAHAM. 

